Can You Die Of A Broken Heart?

The metaphor of a broken heart to describe intense emotional pain has been a favorite among poets and jilted lovers since the beginning of time. In 1990, Japanese scientists discovered that the hurt felt after a messy breakup or the loss of a loved one actually does affect the heart, though it doesn’t exactly break it. Sudden emotional turmoil temporarily enlarges a part of your heart and prevents it from pumping efficiently while the rest of your heart maintains normal function.

Also known as stress-induced cardiomyopathy, broken heart syndrome can be triggered by everything from divorce to an unexpected family death to job loss, natural disasters or even a car accident, according to The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease.

According to the American Heart Association, broken heart syndrome can be misdiagnosed as a heart attack because it shares many of the same symptoms, including sudden, intense chest pain, shortness of breath and irregular heartbeats. Symptoms may begin within minutes of the traumatic event, or they may appear after several hours. If you experience these symptoms, call 911 immediately. Fortunately, tests such as an electrocardiogram or coronary angiogram can help emergency care providers tell the difference. In the case of broken heart syndrome, tests will show no signs of heart damage or blockages in the coronary arteries.

Episodes of broken heart syndrome can lead to severe heart muscle failure, but it’s short-term and treatable. Most residual symptoms subside within weeks. However, a 2015 study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that more than 7 percent of broken heart syndrome patients experienced a subsequent significant adverse event, such as stroke or heart attack, or they passed away.

So, to answer the age-old question: yes, you can die of a broken heart...but it’s very unlikely.

Broken heart syndrome can affect anyone — including those with otherwise healthy hearts — but is most common among post-menopausal women, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. It is a heart condition caused by an emotional response. It’s just one of many examples of how your mental health can impact your cardiovascular system:

• Anger and hostility have been linked to high blood pressure and increased heart rate, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).
• Depression is a risk factor for heart disease, according to the National Institutes of Health.
• Stress increases heart rate and blood pressure, which may damage artery walls over time.
• The AHA points to research indicating that laughter reduces artery inflammation and boosts good cholesterol levels.

Lesson learned? For better heart health, stress less and laugh more.

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